planning stages

who: corey dodge and roach
where: out and about
when: before dawn

Corey often had to sneak around. She had to be dear as damnit silent in order to get around the underground without causing stirs, and when she wasn't down there, she generally felt the need to go as unnoticed as possible. Stealth was her friend. She didn't give that up easily either, even if it might wind up being a situation where it was totally unnecessary--like this one. Where she was sneaking past the boys asleep in the front room of the apartment Dodge had. She went to his room, and silently opened that door, slipping in in the pre-dawn darkness. Walking to where he slept, she crouched down next to the mattress on the floor, watching him for a few long moments. Finally, though, she lightly blew across his face, hard enough to ruffle his hair a little as she did so.

Dodge had been buried in a deep and dreamless sleep, the kind that come when there's been too much stress and not enough rest to deal with all of it. Though, deep asleep as he was, the breath across his cheek was enough to jerk him awake, hands grabbing for whomever was breathing on him. He had his hands on her shoulders before his eyes focused and Dodge realized it was Corey. "Jesus Christ princess," he commented shaking her gently before letting her go. "Way to scare the hell out of a guy." Dodge was typically pretty safe in his apartment, but he was still a wanted young man and just because not everyone knew where it was, didn't meant people could find out. He rubbed a hand over his face to wake himself up the rest of the way before he crossed his arms behind his head. "You know you didn't have to wake me up if you just wanted to crawl into bed," he teased knowing full well that wasn't why she was here.

"That was the gentle way to wake you." Corey pointed out. "Next time I could just kick you in the ribs." she suggested. Her eyes also narrowed just a bit. "Correct me if I'm wrong," she started. "But isn't the driving goal of every man to keep hold of the bits that distinguish him as male?" she asked. "Because if you keep up with the pet names and even the mild suggestion that I would get into any bed with the likes of you I believe you're going to be missing a few. You refer to them as balls. So, should you want to keep those and we could go about our business without the attempts to hit on me, it'd be nice." she informed him. She rocked back a little on her heels. "Seriously, Dodge, we have a dead friend. Now isn't the time to even play at anything."

He knew she hated when he acted like he did, but he couldn't help it. It was part of who he was. "Alright, alright, I get it," Dodge told her sitting up now. He wanted to point out that people died a lot on the streets, more than he'd like to admit. He'd cared quite a bit out about Pepper and he would mourn her in his own way, but that didn't mean the was going change his attitude because she was gone. "Guessing you're here with news?" Dodge asked, shifting so she could sit with him on the bed if she chose. He guessed she wouldn't but that didn't mean he wasn't going to offer. Corey fought his advances harder than Pepper did, and Dodge had been punched more than once before he learned his lesson with Corey.

She, as predicted, didn't sit with him, she stayed crouched where she was. "I do." she said. "They retreated a little into the underground." she informed him. "But not everyone's happy with their presence. And I have an idea." she told him. "But it'll hinge on you and whether or not you're up for you and your boys taking on the guys responsible for Peppers's death." She really hoped that they would be. Because she did have that plan and all. But she couldn't pull it off herself, and really it did massively depend on Dodge and his crew.

"Do you have to ask?" Dodge said, looking far more serious than he had moment ago. "I'm sorry we didn't take the guy out hard enough the first time. This time we won't make that mistake." He and the boys had only beat on the guy once. This time they wouldn't go so easy. He'd be lucky to walk away alive, though Dodge doubted he'd retain the use of his legs even if he did survive. "What's the plan?"

"Dodge--that wasn't your fault." Corey said first. "Don't even go there. Don't let your boys think that way either. What happened happened. But you aren't to blame on this. Not at all." she said truly believing that, and her conviction was in her tone. Dodge had a lot of faults in Corey's eyes, but that sure as hell wasn't one of them, and she didn't like the idea of him or any of his boys shouldering the blame for something that wasn't at all their fault. Especially a burden as heavy as this one.When she was satisfied she'd made her point, she went on. "The plan is I flush them out. Herd them in certain directions, so you know exactly where they're going to come out. You jump them before they even know what hit them." she explained. Simple? Yes. But a lot of hunting was simple. It just took patience and a mind to tick things over that way, which hers? Was definitely suited for.

A rare frown settled in on Dodge's features. Even with Corey's conviction he was still shouldering some of the blame. He should have forced Pepper into taking extra protection for a day or two, having someone there with her so she'd be safe. Running a hand over his face as if he could rub the frown away Dodge didn't comment on Corey's reassurances. "Not that I doubt your skills, but are you sure you can pin point exactly where they'll come out? These aren't small guys, and I'll need all the big and tough kids I got, which isn't many. We can't spread out too far. And how do we keep them from just turning around and running back in?" Just because the idea was straightforward didn't mean it was error proof. "We're only gonna get one shot. And I can't risk repercussions."

Corey rolled her eyes and tried hard not to feel utterly insulted. "'Herding'. As in gather up whoever you want moved, then make sure they go where you want them to go. It's what I just said. Yes, with the tunnels, and with people down there who aren't happy with their presence, I can in fact, fucking get them exactly where I want them to be. Why on earth would I even come to you with something if I couldn't deliver?" she asked. "It wouldn't make any sense, and you're just really insulting me with lack of faith in my abilities or my ability to plan. And logically speaking, if they're being chased out they really probably won't turn to run back in, will they? And they'll just see a bunch of kids. So who do you think is scarier?" she asked. "The people who haven't seen daylight in ten years and carry boards with nails in them? Or you?" she posed, though it was rhetorical. "Of course if you're too chickenshit to do anything, and want to keep insulting me with doubt, I can take care of it myself." she said, standing and heading towards the window.

Dodge was quick and even from an inconvenient position he was still quick enough to catch her arm before she could leave. "I said point blank I didn't doubt you," he told her, giving her arm arm a small tug back towards where she'd been before letting go. He knew well enough to not touch her like he would anyone else, but he couldn't just have her walk away like that. "And no, we aren't chickenshit or anything close to it. Though I imagine we aren't coming unarmed this time either." Dodge sighed, running a hand through his curls while he thought it out. "I need one exit point, that's all I have guys for. This won't be pretty so I won't risk putting the younger ones in it, which means I'm down a few good guys. Something not enough in the open to attract the cops or keep whoever's chasing them out from backing off too close to the exit. You get wind of how many guys?"

She would have pulled her arm away but he let go, and really she'd figured he'd stop her so she'd been prepared for it. There wasn't anything like a struggle involved. "I would figure you lot would come with whatever you needed." Corey said, confident that Dodge would go prepared, make sure his boys were prepared too. It would be negligent otherwise, so she definitely figured that they'd be more than capable of getting themselves all ready for the fight. They had all of the advantage, in this scenario. She was handing the men who hurt Pepper giftwrapped. "And saying you don't doubt someone then immediately saying shit you doubt about them aren't things that make sense together. Either you don't doubt me or you do. Just saying you don't doesn't mean it takes away the impact of the other statements, and maybe some dimmer people around might actually fall for that, but I won't. You either have confidence in me or you don't. Pick one." she said, though her tone wasn't sharp on that, it was just a flat sort of honest choice she presented.

"As for the place for the fight, I had a location in mind. By the shipyard. People steer clear of there in general anyways, it's big, the cops don't hang around there unless they're on the take anyways, and there's a tunnel that collapsed over there. I push them out the opening of the collapse, you have high ground on them, and hell. You could even drop rocks from above as they're trying to climb out." she said, not at all squeamish about setting up a total slaughter there. Though she didn't figure anyone would die. Severe beatings she was going to be disappointed if she didn't see, however. "You'll have all the advantages." she promised him. She was going to make damn sure Dodge had the upper hand. "As for how many guys, four total."

"I don't doubt you Corey, never have, you know that. It's just different these days. I worry about them a hell of a lot more than I did when I wasn't the one in charge." He didn't blame his boys for any of it, but their safety fell a lot harder on his shoulders these days than it had in the past. Dodge listened to her description of the place closely, trying to visualize it without luck. "Do you have time to take me today? If not I can find it on my own, but it would be good to have you there to plan things out." It was an honest comment, because despite his double talk earlier, he did trust Corey.

"Yeah, I can take you." she said. "Maybe you and Roach." She suggested, since Roach was going to be in on things regardless. She was quiet a moment. "You worry about the boys." she said. "I don't want to tell you how to run your business, but don't show them you feel guilty about this." she said, standing up again. "They'll look to you, so if you let on that you feel like all of this is your fault or even that you feel guilty for part of it, they will too. So play pretend well and don't show it in front of them. It'll make a lot of difference. it's not about you." she told him, toned as simple advice. She'd already had to tell Roach it wasn't his fault, she could imagine the rest of the boys were all feeling the same way. And the only way they'd get over that was if Dodge didn't seem to be taking responsibility for it. Then maybe they could move forward and not feel like they'd failed someone they cared about. Morale, especially for people like them, the thrown away and forgotten, was important. She didn't want Dodge's crew suffering from guilt pangs for something that wasn't their fault. That had everything to do with Dodge and how he played it.

"Roach is a given," Dodge said, watching her stand, though he stayed where he was. Dodge listened to few people in the world, but Corey had earned her stripes, and he considered her an equal of sorts. He ruled the streets above while she managed the tunnels below. They were like two monarchs ruling neighboring countries. So when Corey gave him advice on how to deal with this he nodded. He'd tried, part of his natural personality to show little weakness, but he'd make a concerted effort with it now. "I'll do what I can. I think everyone who knew Pepper knew that what we did was more than she'd normally allow, but we'll put on a good face for the rest of it." His words seemed nonchalant but his tone wasn't, he'd taken her words to heart. "Come on, let's get Roach and check this out before the sun's too high up." Now he stood, dressed in his standard sleep garb, which with the warmer weather streak they had wasn't much more than an undershirt and his underwear. Dodge had a guess that Corey didn't care much how he was dressed as he reached for pants to pull on, but no matter how she reacted, he hardly looked uncomfortable.

Corey didn't really care what he was wearing, she just headed back towards the door. "You want me to go wake him, or do you want to just meet me outside?" she asked. She wouldn't mind going and waking Roach, but she didn't genearlly let on that she had a really good friendship with the guy. It wasn't that it was secret so much as it wasn't the best known thing in the world. And she knew it was best that way, with people not having to ask silly questions like where Roach's loyalty was. So, when they talked and such, a lot of times it was away from anyone's eyes. Therefore she didn't make a big deal about going to get him, either she could do it to save time, or Dodge could do it, and it was left up to Dodge.

Dodge already had his pants on and was reaching for a shirt when Corey asked about Roach. He knew that she and the other boy were friendly, though he didn't question Roach enough to know details. They weren't an item and Dodge knew, like Corey knew, where his boy's loyalty lied. Who Roach was friends with outside of him wasn't a huge concern. "You can grab him," he told her, pulling on his shirt. I'll meet you two out there in a moment."

Corey nodded, then headed out to quietly ghost through the front room, then head to the next to where Roach was sleeping. Or should be sleeping, anyhow. Just as silently as she'd crept into Dodge's room, she glanced around til she spotted Roach, then went to stand over him. "Roach." she whispered, reaching out to lightly nudge his shoulder with her fingertips. She didn't imagine he slept very heavily, but then again, maybe he had to to fall asleep in a place with so many other people nearby. Either way, she wanted to go for the not jarring entrance into consciousness land.

Roach's eyes snapped open, though when he looked up and saw Corey, he still seemed half-asleep. "Cor?" he asked, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes. He was in the crew's apartment, right? "What are you doing here?" From the light, he was pretty sure it was still early yet, and his brain still working to start itself up, slowly sliding pieces of realization into place. Why would Corey be in the apartment this early... "Did you find something out about Pepper?" he asked, suddenly very awake. Unless someone else got snatched, he couldn't think of any other reason why she'd be here.

Nodding, Corey smirked very very faintly in the near dark, thinking to herself that it was just a little cute, the sleep-fuzzies. But she said nothing and the expression died nearly immediately. "And I have a plan. C'mon. I'm leading you and Dodge to the ambush location." Since that was what she was setting up, after all.

"Ambush location?" Roach echoed. She'd found them? "We're taking care of them now, then?" Like Dodge, Roach had slept in just his underwear and was too focused on the plan to be shy about standing up and getting dressed. Mud muttered sleepily on the other side of the room, but the other boy otherwise slept like a rock and Roach didn't pay him any attention as he fumbled around in the dark for his clothes. Unlike Corey, his eyes weren't adapted for this early morning darkness. "How'd you get in?" he asked suddenly, blinking quizzically at Corey as he pulled a shirt on.

"Not right now." She said, keeping her voice down. "I want there to be a set up. I push them out a certain tunnel, you guys are waiting for them. End of story. I'm just taking you to the location first so you boys can prepare properly." she explained, ghosting towards the door as she did so. "And that'd be telling." she said, with the barest little hint of playfullness to her voice, though again, it was gone before it even really showed itself. She wasn't giving up her secrets on things. She was just a shadow. She got everywhere.

Roach rolled his eyes at her, grinning just slightly before letting it fall into grimly-set determination, following her outside. Scoping the place out and getting ready made sense, but he couldn't help the fire running through his veins that made him want to hurt the guy and his asshole goons, now. But he also couldn't let any of the other kids get hurt if they did things sloppy. It had be to right. This guy wasn't getting away a second time.

Dodge was dressed and waiting for them. He wasn't as ideally clean or put together as he preferred but time was important at the moment and at least he had his tie and fedora. He was waiting by the door to the apartment when he spotted Roach and Corey motioning them over and holding the door open for them. They could talk more once they got outside of the apartment, no need to wake the boys yet.

Corey walked silently out, and headed down the hall without waiting for the boys, figuring they'd keep up. Then she was out and onto the sidewalk, though she kept out of the street lamps. It helped a little that it was still dark out, but she knew morning wouldn't be that far off. Then she wouldn't want to be outside at all. Which worked for her, since she had work to do down in the tunnels after she got things set up on this end. Still, though, she didn't like the feel of the sky up above.

Quiet was always tough for Roach, but he crept out of the apartment was silently as he was able, meeting up with the others outside. "Where'd you find him?" Roach asked once they were out where they could talk again. He didn't like that they weren't going to beat the shit out of the guy just yet, but they would. Soon. For now, he just had to keep his fists in his pockets.

Dodge closed the door behind them, nodding to a smaller boy who'd woken up as Roach crept by. Just as Corey had suggested he gave the kid a smile, reassuring that everything would work out alright. "Corey says their hiding in the tunnels," he told Roach as they stepped out into the streets. Unlike his tunnel dwelling friend, the lingering shadows of the morning were worrying him, and he could feel the prickle of a ghost he'd rather forget lurking in them. He moved quickly and was soon in step with Corey. "She's got a damn good plan, but you and I need to sort out the particulars of the upstairs portion."

"I can speak for myself, Dodge." Corey said, though there wasn't that much bite in it. Her mind was clearly on everything else, since that was what was most important at the moment. Turning them towards the shipyard the fastest, she picked up her pace, wanting to get there as soon as they could. "The basic plan is I herd the four men out a specific way. There's a collapsed tunnel by the shipyard, so there shouldn't be many cops, it's out of the way and enough tussles happen there that no one's going to bat much of an eye. It's crumbled but there's a way in and out there, enough room that they'll be able to get out, and you lot can just be waiting for them. You'll have the higher ground, and the element of surprise on your side. Plus whatever weapons you're taking if you're taking them, and they won't want to retreat back into the tunnels. I'll make sure of that." she promised. "However you guys wanna run it on your end is your business. And the timing I'll leave to you as well, I can set it up for whenever's going to work best for you."

"There's four of them?" Roach looked between Corey and Dodge, before his eyes finally settled on the latter. "You sure we can handle four?" They would have weapons, higher ground, and surprise on their side, but all it took was one person to slip up for things to change. And unlike the other side, they weren't going to have grown men with them--there were going to be kids. Roach couldn't see any more kids get hurt, especially not because of these same assholes.

Dodge smirked a bit at Corey being able to talk for herself. Of course she could, but that didn't mean he didn't have an option to clue his own guy in on the plan. And it wasn't like Dodge hadn't given her credit. Still it was Corey, and she was independent, and Dodge had grown to respect that in her, so he held back any other comments about it. "You don't think we can handle four?" Dodge asked, raising an eyebrow towards Roach. Dodge was confident, always confident, but Roach was his muscle, so in this matter his opinion counted. "You, me, Mud, Sketch and Skeeter. Plus there's a few other kids around town who owe me favors." Dodge was ticking people off in his head. There weren't many, and street kids who came in Roach's size were rare. Not eating three square meals a day didn't do much for that. "Corey, you said something about dropping rocks from above?" he asked their third, remembering something from earlier.

"Yes. There's a lot of rubble still left there from the collapse, and part of it is obviously still intact. So, have some people up top, right where the arch is. They see them coming, and start dropping heavy rocks down on their heads. That'll ruin their night." she told them. Her eyes ticked back to Roach, since he expressed something akin to doubt. "I can tenderize them for you." she said. "Hobble them a little, just to be sure that none of them are on top of their game by the time they get to you."

Roach turned to look at Corey, frowning. "Be careful," he told her. He sure as hell knew she could take care of herself, but that didn't keep him from worrying about her. "The last we need is another casualty. Especially your casualty." He looked back at Dodge, looking thoughtful. So four of them, plus a few others (because who was going to turn down the opportunity to knock the heads in of the guys who took out one of their own?), and they'd all have weapons, maybe big, heavy rocks dropping down on them. A carefully placed rock could take a guy out all on its own. "Alright, sounds good." He trusted Corey, and he trusted Dodge, and he trusted that all of the guys that were going to be with them wanted blood as much as he did.

"Odds are they'll be drunk," Dodge pointed out. "The one was when we yanked him from Pepper's space the first time. Not sure if that factors in to your plan or not Corey, but I count it as an advantage in our column." He didn't echo Roach's concern verbally, knowing it wouldn't sound the same coming from him, but he did give her a look that said he agreed. No unnecessary risks. "Two or three of the small ones up top dropping things? They won't disturb the area too much, and they'll be quicker to get out if they need to make an escape."

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. You just worry about your boys. I can handle my end, you've got my word. They'll be tenderized for you, and put right where you want them." Part of her felt better that people were concerned for her safety, and the other part said they still doubted her abilities. But she expressed neither, the two sort of cancelling each other out. Her mind was focused in the first place, laying the plan. She listened to what Dodge said and nodded. "There should be an alley they can reach pretty quick, so they could drop the rocks then haul ass out of there, get themselves out of the way as quickly as possible so they never even had a chance to be in the fray." she told them, also not up to putting little kids into a fight with killers. But they could help and any advantage they could eek out she wanted to take. Fair? Nope, but neither was four guys taking on Pepper. They deserved what they got.

Roach still wasn't keen on bringing the smaller kids into the fight, but some of them knew Pepper too, and he was sure they'd want to do what they can to get back at the guys who killed her. As long as they stayed out of sight and out of reach, dropped the rocks and then hauled ass, he supposed it was all right. Any advantage they could get would be helpful. "What are we gonna do with them when we're done?" Roach didn't outright say their bodies, but the idea that they'd retaliate again, that some other kid would get killed because they didn't finish the job, made him sick.

"The littler ones are nothing if not quick on their feet. And able to disappear faster than should be possible," Dodge mused while he considered the situation. At Roach's question he turned to the other boy, eyebrow raised again, but not questioning Roach as much as the actual query. "Water? Not too far from the shipyard. I won't lose sleep if they drown. Or we leave them where they lie." Let them bleed out in the streets like roadkill.

Corey listened, not putting in any commentary since as far as she was concerned, she wasn't being asked, and therefore it wasn't her business. She didn't like the idea of them dying, because that she thought could bring unnecessary heat down on Dodge and his crew, especially since they'd been in an altercation with at least one of the men before. Dead meant trouble. But no one was really going to care about a bunch of street people getting beat up. The hospitals would probably give them the most minimal of care if they helped at all. And depending on how badly they were beaten, they might not be upright and walking around so well to cause trouble later. But her opinion wasn't being asked for and therefore she considered the matter closed to her.

Roach nodded, glad that he and Dodge were on the same page about the four men's fates. He'd like that, to see them floating face down in water or bleeding out on the concrete. They deserved whatever they got when they were done with them. Let nature deal with them. Like it was dealing with Pepper. "The worst part is," Roach started, his voice tight, angry, changing the subject for a moment, "is not knowing what they did with her. Not knowing where she is right now." Like no one had known where Ethan Gray was, laying with his face in his parents' blood. He knew how that felt, how terrifying that was, being alone among death. But this wasn't about him--this was about Pepper. And they were going to take care of those who had killed Pepper.

Dodge was a little surprised that Corey didn't voice an opinion, he couldn't help but assume she had one, so she got a look from him, but not much more. If she didn't want to weigh in she didn't want to weigh in. The less she knew was probably better for her in the end. "We could ask?" Dodge suggested, though he doubted it would get them much in the way of answers. He could tell Roach was angry, and though it seemed a little more than typical, it wasn't a typical situation. He tried not to read too much into it.

It would take more than just a vague look to get Corey's opinion out of her. She didn't go butting in unless she felt she truly had to. Though she still thought it was a poor idea. One thing she could say though was her view on finding Pepper. "Wherever she is, you do not want to find her." she said, voice very quiet. "I've seen what being dead and left looks like after a few days, and...you don't want to see her like that. She should stay there and rest. Just remember her alive." Saving people a little emotional trauma by avoiding finding a friend who'd been purifying and eaten by vermin was high on her list of things to do.

Roach looked over at Corey, his eyes on her but not on her for a long moment. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he said, looking away. He kept having to remind himself that this had absolutely nothing to do with him, no matter how close it felt. "So when are we doing this?" he asked, clearing his throat and looking up at the other two.

When Roach agreed with Corey, Dodge nodded along. He didn't think they would have found an answer if there was one to find. Not having to worry about it made it easier on him. "Early morning work for you Corey? Enough time to get things in order. Same time as now, but tomorrow." It would mean Dodge and Roach spent the day recruiting, but Dodge didn't mind that. Yesterday had been a bad day, and today he'd have a task, something to focus on that wasn't arguing with the James women.

Nodding, Corey turned them down between two warehouse buildings, getting closer to where the tunnel was collapsed. "It's up here." she said. "But yes, this time tomorrow is fine." she agreed. She could get things set by then. Walking up ahead, she still had major misgivings about certain things said, but didn't share them. She kept telling herself it wasn't her call. Not her business. Dodge didn't tell her how to run things she didn't tell him how to either.

That they were waiting until tomorrow deflated Roach a bit. He'd gotten so excited, got his blood pumping so fast and now they were going to wait a whole day? He understand why--they had a plan and now they had to set it in motion--but he'd been wired and anxious to cause some hurt and now he had to bring himself down from that. He looked over at Corey as they walked, noticing quickly that there was something she wasn't saying. They hadn't been friends for years now without learning how to read each other. "Corey," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. "What's up?" If something was bothering her, it had to be important.

Dodge had been distracted, watching the path to the tunnel so he'd remember it, studying their surroundings and trying to layout a strategy. War games were hardly his thing, but he was good at negotiating which would come in handy throughout the day. When Roach addressed Corey, Dodge couldn't help but look over at her, curious look on his face. "Did I miss something?" Rarely Dodge would admit falling short at anything, but it was just the three of them and this was hardly a light matter they were undertaking. If something was missed it could be the difference between life and death.

"Not my place to say." She said. Which was honest. She wasn't going to go and deny something was up, but she did generally stick by her own rules on things. Like not telling Dodge his business. This? Was definitely his business. She did glance back, though, at Roach for a second, then back to Dodge. When Dodge spoke, she stopped walking, and was quiet for a moment. "Yes, you did." she said. "But not what you think." she added. It wasn't in the tactics.

"Dodge, one of the things I've come to understand about you over the years is you never look at the consequences of things. Hell, half the time you don't even understand or notice them when they happen, or you just ignore them. But this right here, what you just said..." she paused, and drew in a breath, not liking this. "You said you won't lose sleep if they die. But it's not all about you. What that says to me is you don't give a damn or haven't even thought about the fact that you'd be turning you and your whole gang into killers. Little kids, that depend on you, would be lumped in with the rest of you, and that would be what they'd be dealing with. Word travels fast, people will know, and even if you manage to dodge the cops on charges, the streets you think you own? Are going to be talking about four dead men. And how Dodge and his crew were the ones that did 'em. You better think long and hard before you put that on anyone. Just because you won't lose sleep doesn't mean that that's the only thing that matters. You're a leader. Act like you actually look out for other people's interests. And if you don't care, do a better job pretending or hand over the title to someone else. This kind of thing could get people hurt, killed or worse. And you'd still be landing a bunch of kids with the 'killer' stigma. Even if they weren't there." Her tone was even the whole time, not biting or accusational. Just flatly put, spelling it out so hopefully he'd understand. She knew he had a thick head sometimes.

Corey wasn't talking to Roach, but a good chunk of what she was saying could apply to him as well. He put his hands in his pockets, looked at the ground. He wouldn't lose sleep over killing these assholes either. It would be justice, not murder--except that it was. Except that Roach didn't care. But what he did care about was dragging the kids into it--he had worried about them getting hurt at the time, but not the connotation that they would be part of a gang that had killed. Killed in retaliation, in revenge, in justice, but killed nevertheless. He and Dodge weren't children anymore, but the others were, and children weren't supposed to see and do these kinds of things. But in the end, it wasn't his call. It was Dodge's.

Dodge had stopped when Corey did, listening to her speak with more attention than he gave most people. She had a good point. In his own mind, he was already bearing that killer brand, having seen to it that Patrick got killed. He'd by lying if he said that didn't haunt him. Even now he couldn't resist the urge to check over his shoulder, knowing there was nothing there, but needing to see it. He didn't want that for his boys. "Yet, we have to make sure they have no desire to retaliate anyway," Dodge said, not sounding condescending or like he wasn't listening. Just that when he'd considered it, he'd been looking at that end of the spectrum. Lifting the fedora he ran a hand through his hair before placing the hat back down on his head. "Do you have a suggestion?" he asked Corey, honestly wanting to know what she was thinking.

"So put them in the hospital. Make sure they can't walk anymore. There's a tendon in the back of the leg--if you snap it, no one's walking anywhere anymore but it won't kill anyone either." she said, demonstrating on the back of her own knee. Hamstringing people worked well. "Let them know if they try anything on anyone there'll be reppercussions. Threaten. When you've already beaten someone to a bloody pulp, they're a lot more prone to listening to threats than they would be before then. They'll know they don't have a place underground anymore too, so they can't go hide there. Just--be smarter about this than just thinking about revenge, or worrying about them rising back up. They probably are all the friends they have, just the four of them or they'd have done more or I'd have heard more. They aren't an organized gang or anything, either. They hit Pepper like they did because she was alone. You're a gang. Tell everyone in it not to go anywhere alone from here out for a while. There are really simple ways to get around this, Dodge, if you just think for a while before you act on things." Which wasn't his strong suit. But she was trying.

Corey was right. Ethan knew well enough from experience that pain was a powerful motivator. Snap fingers or legs or that tendon in the back of the leg that Corey was talking about, and people would do anything, say anything. But he still didn't like the chance. No matter how bad they hurt them, if they weren't dead, there was always a possibility that one of them would get drunk enough or be stupid or angry enough to retaliate. Nothing was one hundred percent--nothing but death. But he kept that to himself. He stayed quiet as the other two spoke, listening, watching for Dodge's reaction.

Dodge had started moving again, but not forward, just pacing across the small space they were in while he listened. He liked Corey's plan, it made sense enough. They'd scare the shit out of them. He kept playing it over in his head, terrible as she said, at looking at consequences, but trying to determine them now out of necessity. Prior to a few months ago, this sort of things wasn't his concern. Patrick would see to it that ends were tied up and he and Roach would just go bust head. Now, Corey was right, it fell on Dodge's shoulders to see to it that his boys were safe, and not permanently scarred. After another minute or two, he slowed his pacing, looking at Corey first then Roach. "She's right. We see to it that if they do walk again? It's with a limp bad enough we hear them coming. Then this week, we'll keep the boys in packs, the young ones with older ones at all times, closer to home or at least safer areas. No back alleys, no shortcuts, no going off alone." It would mean a short week on what they brought in, but they'd manage. "Earlier check ins, roll calls, bedtimes. Whole nine yards."

Nodding a little, Corey turned again, to keep leading the way to the tunnels. She could still feel the open sky over her head and she wanted to get moving. Being out and about wasn't a fun thing for her at the best of times. "You guys can work out the details. It's right up here." she said, giving them the option to follow now or talk amongst themselves then follow.

Roach nodded, though he smirked a little at Dodge when he suggested tightening up check-ins and bedtimes for the boys. "They're gonna be bitching about that," he said. They could bitch all they wanted, this was for their own safety. Dodge would sort them out.

"I know, but they'll live. It's only for a few days to see how things play out," Dodge said, motioning for Roach to follow along after Corey. He knew she'd spent more than enough time in the open air, and there was still plenty to be done today. They'd check out the space, make some more decisions and then rally their troops. Dodge doubted he'd sleep much tonight, but he'd be ready for this. They all had to be. It needed to be done.